Overview

The 2025 Lil Nas X Arrest and Mental Breakdown Rumors refers to a report that rapper and pop artist Lil Nas X was arrested and hospitalized in late August 2025, following a viral video obtained by TMZ that showed him walking down a Los Angeles (LA) street at night in only his underwear and white cowboy boots. Many internet users speculated that Lil Nas X's odd behavior was a mental breakdown caused by drug use or a possible overdose. Officers on the scene also believed that he was suffering from a possible overdose. Others speculated that it was a publicity stunt. Lil Nas X was also arrested for alleged battery of a police officer. Discourse, memes and reactions about the event surfaced en masse on social media platforms like Twitter / X, Reddit and TikTok, among others, in the following days.

Background

On August 21st, 2025, TMZ^[1] published an article about recording artist Lil Nas X, known for his 2018 hit single "Old Town Road," getting hospitalized, after he was seen walking down Venture Blvd. in Los Angeles at 4 a.m. Police officers and EMTs reportedly arrived at the scene. Officers believed that Lil Nas X was having a possible drug overdose, according to the report.

TMZ stated that Lil Nas X had allegedly charged at police and was then put in handcuffs and detained. He was hospitalized and could face charges for allegedly attacking the police officer, according to the report.^[1] In a report from CNN,^[4] Lil Nas X was arrested on suspicion of battery of a police officer.

In the article, TMZ also obtained a video of Lil Nas X walking down the street from a civilian who reportedly stumbled upon the scene and began filming. In the video, Lil Nas X was wearing only white underwear and cowboy boots. He was heard speaking to the driver about a party and vocalizing notes.^[1]

TMZ posted the video on X^[2] on August 21st, gaining over 1.8 million views and 3,700 likes in less than 24 hours (shown below).

Lil Nas X Hospitalized for Possible OVERDOSE after Roaming the streets of LA NEARLY NAKED

GO A HEAD BABE! Is TEARING MEE!! 🤣🤣😂🤣😂 pic.twitter.com/anaqvD0hl1

— Armon Wiggins (@ArmonWiggins) August 21, 2025

Online Reactions

The video went viral on social media in late August 2025, with posts spreading on August 21st, such as a tweet shared by X^[3] user @ArmonWiggins that reposted the TMZ video, gaining over 2.3 million views and 19,000 likes in a day.

On August 21st, 2025, X^[5] user @Howlingmutant0 quote-tweeted TMZ's post, writing, "How’s worshipping the devil going?" referring to Lil Nas X's use of satanic symbolism, like in the music video for "MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name)." The post gained over 40,000 likes in a day (shown below).

On August 21st, fellow rapper and recording artist Azealia Banks quote-tweeted the TMZ video on X,^[6] jokingly speculating that Lil Nas X's outfit in the video was going to become a popular 2025 Halloween costume. The post gained over 1,300 likes in a day (shown below).

On that same day, Redditor GilbertVonGilbert shared the TMZ report to the /r/Fauxmoi^[7] subreddit, gaining over 6,300 upvotes in a day.

Also on August 21st, 2025, Redditor mcfw31 shared the story to the /r/entertainment^[8] subreddit, gaining over 4,300 upvotes in a day.

Later that day, TikToker^[9] @kdotfan727 posted a video in which she addressed people calling Lil Nas X's arrest a "PR stunt," instead claiming, "It's obvious he's in an active addiction right now." The video received over 107,900 likes in a day (shown below).

On August 21st, 2025, X^[10] user @fcknliisa quote-tweeted a video of Lil Nas X that surfaced in February 2025, which showed him wearing a pink bonnet, sitting in a furniture-less room and talking to the viewer. @fcknliisa captioned the video, "This was when I knew chile," amassing over 50,000 likes in a day (shown below).

On that same day, TMZ echoed @fcknliisa's belief in its own tweet.^[11]

this was when I knew chile https://t.co/FLpIGcvM6r

— ★ LIISA ★ (@fcknliisa) August 21, 2025

Search Interest

External References